Borealiso Beautiful: December 2010

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Bling and zing

India is known for its gold. That's all I know. So when I see mountains of beautiful gold dripping off the ladies, I want it. I found it in a more delicate form...Mom, you would be proud of my power shop (Sara needed to stop at the ATM, I needed to zip into the jewelery store, Dez needed to pop in her head to inquire "browsing or buying?" to be told that it was "Already bought.") We are cut from the same sari.

That was on our way to the spice farm. Top three most valuable spices? Saffron, then vanilla, then cardamom. Got a tour and a feed...and a stop at the spice shop.

Curry Leaves

Finally, the elephant...Lord Ganesh in person (animal). See kids, I wasn't making it up!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Nothing like this

"Miss! Miss! Good day. How are you? What's your name? You come look in my shop. Looking is free! Come inside. You like? You want pashmina? Jewelery? Blanket? You don't have one like this. I'll give you a good price. Maybe tomorrow? Promise?"

We are in the midst of maxing and relaxing. Goa beach could be Mexico beach, Hawaii beach. Nothing "scary India" about it. In fact, we have come to realize that travelling in India is a lot easier than anticipated, both logistically and mentally. Where are the piles of @*it# and rats? They're there, but not running across our feet or blocking our path. That would be the cows. City, village, eating from garbage, strolling the roads or lying on the beach. Cows abound.

If anything were to be classified as scary to date, it would have to be our day with our hired driver. India 500 on narrow roads. A honk being the only thing separating you from the car around the bend. Jesus on the dashboard protect us now. We offer you marigolds.

A few more days of the beach life. Cooking class had today with the son and wife of our proprieter (day off from being anywhere near a vehicle), tomorrow to the spice farm.

Happy Birthday, Dad! Try cardamom and cashews in your rice pudding the next time around (there's cardamom in my spice cupboard, if you need).

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Happy Christmas from India with love

Christmas 2010: India, Maher (meaning mother's womb) orphanage and woman's shelter. I don't think I've ever said "Happy Christmas" so much on one day. Or smiled so much (my smile muscles felt frozen into place while the rest of me was melting on the spot. Heat and love.) We were treated like royalty, shook hands with everyone (is this why the Queen wears gloves?), given tea and water, cakes and dals.

Witnessed a naming ceremony. With flowers, candles, passing the baby over and under the crib three times before settling him into it, blessing with the red dye.

Another ceremony was taking place today as we drove through the streets of Pune in our rickshaw. A funeral procession. Men walking 8 wide, bearing above their heads the white-wrapped body adorned with flowers. As Dez said, it was straight out of "A Fine Balance" or "City of Gods".

Monday, December 20, 2010

Swirls and fleur-ls for girls

The window at yesterday's Mocha Bar...chai masala, mango and orange juice and "esoteric conversation" amongst the hipsters.

Yesterday's quest: FabIndia. Fabrics, fabrics, fabrics. Our carefully packed bags now include stoles, dupatas, circle skirts, tunics and blouses. Bring on the heat!

Rickshaw Ride

Rickshaw is the way to get around. Up to 3 people in the back seat, whipping up a breeze, surrounded by honks. Long, short, repetitive, a thumb-trigger reaction. I love how close the other vehicles, bikers and pedestrians get. People's reaction times seem a lot faster as they weave in and out of lanes. We got to practice crossing the road today. Look both ways, edge out...and run. It's truly survival of the fittest.

We're all safe, sound, sated and tired. I love butter chicken. Ripping naan bread with one hand is an interesting task, however.

With love,
meg

ps. Having a lot of diffiulty uploading video...will try some other time. I want you to see and hear!

Bedtime Stories

October 10: Mr. Fox (Helen Oyeyemi): Why say with a few words what this review says so well with a lot? Took me a while, but I've been busy. I may have told you. It's a book I floated on top of, dipping my toe in, not really sinking into. Maybe it was the violence against women dressed up in fables. But a couple of passages that I loved. Here's one: ""Let this enemy of progress tell you something," I said. "I'm never sad when a friend goes far away, because whichever city or country that friend goes to, they turn the place friendly. They turn a suspicious-looking name on the map into a place where a welcome can be found. Maybe the friend will talk about you sometimes, to other friends that live around him, and then that's almost as good as being there yourself. You're in several places at once! In fact, my daughter, I would even go so far as to say that the farther away your friends are, and the more spread out they are, the better your chances of going safely through the world..." "Ugh," my daughter said."
August 12: Be Different (John Elder Robison): Here's a view of life with Aspergers. An easy, informative and entertaining read. I like how he stresses that Asperger's does not necessarily mean you're disabled, or that there's something wrong with you; you're just different. Your brain is wired differently. A good insight into some of the behaviours linked with Aspergers. Robison stressed that these behaviours are not there to hurt, bother or defy other people; they are entirely self-serving. As the author points out, however, knowledge is power. Both the Aspergian and those who live and work with them benefit from knowing about Aspergers so that true growth can happen.
Early August: Fifty Shades of Grey and Fifty Shades Darker (ELJames): I don't know if I should be admitting to reading these. Annie-Claude called it mommy porn. I am a mommy. I would consider this porn. But the website says erotica. If there's a bandwagon, you should jump on it, right?
Mid-July: On the Outside Looking Indian (Rupinder Gill): This girl could definitely be a stand-up comic. As for a novelist or a "year-in-the-life-of-ist", she's a bit of a lightweight. Superficial goals that only briefly acknowledge their raison d'etre...this is a quest for happiness and self-acceptance, Rupinder, not just for Disney Land and a childhood denied. You'rein charge of your own destiny, rah rah rah.
Early July : The Dovekeepers (Alice Hoffman): She's a witch! Alice Hoffman has a good feel for the customs, speech and social expectations and taboos of these Roman times. Great strong female characters.
May 16: The Continuum Concept (Jean Liedloff): Felt like I was sitting in on my first-year anthropology class, listening to a very passionate teacher who adored her subject but who had to share it with an indifferent audience. What did I take away from this? I like to carry my baby, had her in a sling or carrier most of the time when she was young, let her feed on demand...but she sleeps in her crib (a no-no, according to Jean). I do like her description of the "in-arms phase", where "...the infant is always present but rarely the center of attention. He is simply there, in the midst of the caretaker's life, constantly experiencing things, safely being held." Until he starts exploring on his own, at which point he does so without interference ("protection"), but with mother nearby and available if he needs help. Ready, set, explore Clearwater Lake! Waldkind.
May 8: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Ransom Riggs...really?!): Great creepy, black-and-white photos of (real) peculiar children. The story is kind of contrived and spoon-fed, though. It is a beautiful looking book, found in the well-stocked children's lit section of Brighton's tiny bookstore.
May 3: On Writing (Stephen King): I like books on writing. Teaching writing, becoming a better writer. Essentially, it boils down to two things: you need to read a lot and write a lot. That's it. As a side note, did you know that Stephen King was an alcoholic and drug addict? Liked his memoirs and thoughts on his own stories. Am quite happy to steer very clear of said stories. I believe that they're good. Good enough for me.
April 27: I Love You, Beth Cooper (Larry Doyle): Steve's been wanting me to read this for a while. It is hilarious. I was actually grossed out in the first few pages and expected to gag on a description of exploding white puss-filled zits, but was soon flying through an epic grad night. Adventures in Babysitting style. I now want to see the movie.
April 22: I am Number Four (Pittacus Lore): Tee hee hee. Young-adult superhero book at its "best". Favourite line: "That's for my dad!" (as Sam uses a shotgun to blow away the Mogadorian, revenge for the abduction of his father).

Borealiso Beautiful